A thrilling and accessible history of a little-known battle early in the American Revolution. A valiant, small fleet of gunboats on Lake Champlain in northern New York met the Royal Navy and held back an invasion that could have dealt a crippling blow to the Revolution. The fighting courage of Benedict Arnold is on full display and his service to the cause of the American Revolution is as important to acknowledge as is his ultimate betrayal.

Fabulous insight to the campaign of 1776. Lots of details previously unknown to me shed new light on the importance of the fighting on the lake.

Excellent history of events that I knew very little about. Don't judge Benedict Arnold until you've rear this book!

The digital edition I read from Netgalley lacked the detailed maps that are in the print version. They are desperately needed! One hopes, too, that the hard copy contains depictions of the various types of boats discussed.

In general, an exciting and very well written history. (Well, there are a few very over-the-top metaphors.)

I found this to be an interesting book for the one you got a look at the naval battle on Lake Champlain and then the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. You also get a look at all of the backstabbing that was going on amongst the men that wanted to be in charge of the entire Army and to take credit for battles that they really did not have anything to do with, Yes Arnold would later betray Washington and the Army but at one time he was an effective leader of men and was able to capture the Fort and cause havoc to the British. The battles that are fought here are rarely talked about so this was a good book for that as well, especially if you are into history.

If you you would like to glimpse a little of the circumstances of Benedict Arnolds decision to turn traitor, then this is a good book to read. It vividly paints a picture of what was one of the revolutionary wars most important battles. If not the most important. The Battle of Lake Champlain. The snubbing of Arnold by Congress after this battle is dumbfounding.

An intriguing account of the underdiscussed Vacour campaign and its role in shaping the outcome of the American Revolution.

The Valcour campaign shows up in most detailed Revolutionary War histories, though it’s not generally a focal point or a battle that gets as much attention as other pivotal clashes of the war.

This one is particularly interesting if you find Benedict Arnold to be as fascinating a character as I do.

The events of this book take place before Arnold’s treasonous defection to the British side. In fact, he is the hero of the American cause here. It’s a chance to get to know a rarely discussed side of a man who is often vilified in the history books with little regard for the nuance of his situation. Though nothing that happens here excuses Arnold’s subsequent betrayal of his country, it is an important piece of the puzzle regarding why a seemingly honorable man took the actions he did later in the war.

Kelly gives us loads of interesting supplementary information as well, including a lot about the effects of small pox on the war and some interesting tactical and strategic information about fighting a naval battle on a lake.

Great stuff if you love all things American Revolution, and probably best enjoyed if you’ve already got a solid background on the subject of the war in general.

Beautifully written story about the battle on Valcour Island. Historically significant to American History and the War on Independence. Very well researched based on real people and correspondences. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartin’sPress, #JackKelly for the copy of #Valcour for my honest review.

I thought Jack Kelly's Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty was a fabulous read. Five plus stars.

Valcour was an outstanding, accessible historical account. I will be looking forward with great interest to Jack Kelly's future work.

History would look back on the northern army’s valiant effort at Valcour Island in 1776 as a decisive phase in the war. And that's what this book is about. I've never heard of this battle before, and I found the book to be interesting in some places and boring in others. To be fair, I'm not much of a water person and wasn't very familiar with the content. However, the educational book is filled with information about shipbuilding, battles and interpersonal relationships that led to the conflict, the battle, and beyond.
Some interesting facts:
Every war starts with enthusiasm, followed by a sober recognition of the reality, the cost, and the horror. The frugal and indecisive Congress didn’t help matters. The fate of the north would rely on the most mundane aspects of war— supply, logistics, organization, transport.
In 1776, the people of America were divided. Patriots and loyalists gathered into opposing camps. Regional animosity, class resentment, and political disagreement fueled dissension in the army, in Congress, and in the population as a whole.
In the final weeks of 1776, the American cause teetered on the brink of extinction. It was then that the pamphleteer Thomas Paine, traveling with the troops fleeing across New Jersey, had penned his stirring call to arms, which he called The American Crisis. “ These are the times,” he wrote, “that try men’s souls.”
More crucial than the outcome of a given battle was the persistence of the Continental Army. George Washington was a great general not because he won battles but because he kept the army in existence.
Benedict Arnold starred in this battle. But politicians rejected his promotion because they were afraid that military officers would usurp their power. The rejection formed Arnold's future.
Pascal De Angelis was a 13-year-old sailor soldier who bravely defended his ship.
Comfort Kellogg supported her soldier husband despite being nine months pregnant.
Replicas of two ships from this battle are found in the Smithsonian and a Vermont museum.

I always love reading historical novels of any kind really. They bring forward the people and places that built the world as we know it today. This is a little known tale from 1776 that features some of the biggest names of the time, people like young George Washington, an enterprising general a few years short of his well documented crossing of the Delaware, and Benedict Arnold, the most notorious traitor. In the dawning days of the country known as the United States of America, these men were involved in a life or death fight against the British. The British had a well documented history of navel superiority that was unmatched. The fledging Americans without an organized Navy hurriedly built a battalion of boats on the inland Lake Champlain. Their sole purpose was to defend the passage into New York and prevent the British from moving down and overtaking the meager forces stationed at Ticonderoga and other forts along the route. A David vs Goliath tale featuring the young Benedict Arnold. A young man with a mind made for military strategy who would lead the ragtag group of naval boats in a campaign to stop the British advance at all costs. The author gives us an in depth historical view of life at this time with many paragraphs almost having a poetic quality to the writing. It’s a fascinating story that reminds all of us of the blood, sweat and tears that were spilt to give this nation life. It can be a little dry especially early on in the book, but it does pick up steam and is generally fascinating. Review posted to Goodreads, Litsy, LibraryThing, Facebook, and Amazon.

I have really stayed away from books on the Revolutionary War for a good long time because I became so burned-out on the subject and nothing I was reading was new. I was offered this book by the publicist though and I am so glad I took a chance on it. This was an aspect of the war I knew almost nothing about and I found it to be an engrossing read that I could not put down. Definitely recommended for those who have an interest in the period, but also though who have read a lot like me and are looking for a new angle. Great read!

I know a bit of American Reovolutionary history, but my knowledge of Benedict Arnold's service prior to his betrayal was pretty much limited to the Saratoga campaign and a vague idea of a lake battle.. This was a fresh story on a little-known part of the Revolution that is finally given its due attention and it's an amazing one.

It's odd to know the USA would probably not exist if not for the man who is now known as the country's greatest traitor, but it's fascinating.

Courtesy of Netgalley and St.Martin's Press, I received the ARC of Valcour by Jack Kelly. I knew nothing about the early military career of Benedict Arnold and feel so fortunate to have benefitted from learning through the amazing words of Jack Kelly. Well researched, with magnificent imagery and descriptions, I was transported to 1776 with all the suspense and drama of a strategic battle.

Don't be fooled by the 2 stars, which means "It's OK". When I read the description of this book, I immediately thought of my husband and how he may really enjoy this book. Sadly he had no interest...

I struggle with history books and this was no exception, I struggled. HOWEVER, I did feel that this book read as fiction and was not difficult to read and enjoy. I am not able to comment on whether or not the author did his research because, well, I have no idea.

If you enjoy this time in history, then I think that you will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy. This book released in April 2021.

Get ready for an adventure from the American Revolution that very few ever talk about.
Do you remember in history class when your teacher would say "there are so many things that we just do not have time to talk about?" Well, this is one of those things.

This book was amazing, and I loved it! For history lovers, this is going to cover a piece of history we would have been begging our teachers to spend more time on. For those that do not generally enjoy history - this book is still enjoyable - giving you the perspective of a battle from a bygone era, and brings to life some of the struggles of the new Navy.

Jack Kelly has delivered a book that is hard to put down, and breathes new life into a little talked about portion of the American Revolution. Get it now!

I had read Jack Kelly's book "Band of Giants" a couple of years ago, so when I saw he had a new book coming out, I knew I had to check it out! "Valcour" is about 1776 during the American Revolution. This includes the time when Benedict Arnold was still a good guy, and for the most part still a hero, so he is featured rather prominently in this book, as well as Horatio Gates and Philip Schuyler. The naval engagements are a major focus of the book, and it was fun to read the descriptions of the gunners and their construction.

Structure and Formatting 4/5
I tend to prefer all-encompassing histories rather than more narrow-focused books. I felt this book did a good job of giving a snapshot into the American Revolution at this time, but some of the introductions of characters and places felt choppy as a result of the narrow scope.

Thoroughness of Research 4/5
Other than my standout "character" in this book (Colonel Wigglesworth), I didn't feel like this book introduced any new sources or gave a new analysis of existing sources. This was definitely more focused on the naval aspects of the war than some other books I have read, which was great. I may need to comb back through the notes section to see if I missed anything, but nothing jumped out at me as "ooh! Let me go look that up!" which is something I look forward to when reading history books.

Storytelling/Writing 4/5
Jack Kelly has a very easy writing style to read. I enjoy his books and will continue to look into his future books. The choppiness mentioned earlier is the only thing that I had issues with, but again I think that's just the nature of a more narrow-scoped book.

Level of Enjoyment 3.5/5
I think this book has shown me that I will never be sympathetic towards Arnold. I think that affected my enjoyment of the book a bit, but those less critical of him will probably enjoy this more. Arnold just seems to annoy me and seeing him page-after-page just started to grate on me a bit.

Prior Knowledge Needed 4/5
I don't know if I would recommend this book to people brand new to Revolutionary War history. (For that, I would definitely recommend his book "Band of Giants.") Because of the narrow-scope of the book, it definitely helps to have some background on the rest of the war and some of the players involved. That said, the length of this book could work well for those that are at least familiar with Benedict Arnold, are fascinated by our many attempts to take Quebec, and/or have maybe seen "Hamilton." :-P

Valcour Island was the scene of a impressive battle that was key in the American Revolution, but you won’t see it be a important factor in history books because of one of the keynote leaders involved.

Benedict Arnold is well known for his betrayal to our country, but what people forget is what he did prior for this country. Benedict was a outstanding strategist and fought many fights for America.
One of the greatest of them he was paired with a British recruit who fought for our country, and the man who was behind the scenes, but had a brilliant mind on seeing all the pieces was Philip Schulyer. This three men developed a very intriguing and intricate plan based on Benedict’s idea of a three prong hit and it all would focus around Valcour Island.

The authors descriptive writing style kept me glued to the pages that I forgot to put my dinner in the oven. Oh, well fast food! He wrote so that I literally felt as though you were following along with Benedict and experiencing what he saw and felt. The death and sickness in the camps.

This is a phenomenal book and I highly recommend It!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

This was a wonderfully written, very informative book. There is so much we don’t know about our history and Jack Kelly introduced me to this unknown (to me) moment in American history. It is easy to read with well-drawn characterizations, full of intrigue and information. I think it’s perfect for history book clubs.

I love it when I find historical non-fiction that does not read like a textbook. Jack Kelly’s “Valcour” sheds light on a little known battle between the British Canadians and the American colonists during the American Revolution.

The book also details Benedict Arnold’s role in the battle. I have to admit, I knew little about Arnold other than he was a traitor. After reading the account of what happened at Valcour, I have a new respect for Arnold, and a better understanding of why he turned his back on the colonists.

Kelly also describes in detail the ships and ammunitions, as well as the hardships that the seamen endured both before and after the battle at Valcour. These men definitely deserved to win.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I’m happy to give my honest review.